Montclair State University Opera
The Opera Program at The John J. Cali School is led by Karen Driscoll, Head of Artistic Operations/Opera, and resides within the College of Performing Arts (CART) at Montclair State University.
We believe that opera is the one of the most inclusive and collaborative artforms in existence, bringing music, art, dance, history, and stage craft together holistically to create the highest expression of musical performance. Cali Opera emphasizes the importance of exposing its students to early music repertoire through and including the development of the 21st Century style in order to embrace the evolution of historical origins to modern styles and trends of opera today.
We offer a variety of performance opportunities spanning from a fully staged large scale opera production with orchestra, a small-scale chamber opera to a robust opera workshop scenes program. We invite participation by all musical degree candidates (Performance, Music Ed., Music Therapy, Music Theater) and all academic levels.
With close proximity to NYC, Cali Opera also draws upon some of the best and most distinguished artists the industry has to offer. Our students also enjoy the tremendous experience of training through master classes, and guest artists in the unique John J. Cali School of Music Immersive Residency Program.
For questions about the Cali Opera Program, please email Karen Driscoll, Head of Artistic Operations/Opera at driscollk@montclair.edu or follow us at our social pages Facebook and Instagram
To learn more about applying to The John J. Cali School of Music, visit our auditions page or email Linsay Setzer, Audition’s Coordinator at setzerl@montclair.edu
Hansel & Gretel
Engelbert Humperdinck, Composer
Hansel & Gretel Karen Driscoll (Director)
William Hobbs (Conductor)
Ginny Stephens (Musical Preparation, pianist)
Deborah Caney (Costume Designer & Coordinator)
James Conrad Smith (Scenic Designer)
Paige Elise Buchanan Stewart (Livestream Production)
Saturday, December 7 @ 3:00 PM
Alexander Kasser Theater
This fairy tale opera follows brother and sister–, Hansel and Gretel, as they are sent away to gather strawberries after frustrating their exhausted mother. While on their quest, the children get lost in the haunted woods where the renowned evil Witch of Ilsenstein dwells. After encountering some other magical characters, the children come upon a beautiful and delicious gingerbread house, where a kind old woman lives. They are invited inside to enjoy sweets and treats, only to be captured by the evil Witch! She puts a spell on the children, making them eat until they are plump so that she can cook them to perfection. The children manage to overcome the Witch, and their parents find them, all celebrating their freedom.
Family friendly version: approximately 1 hour
Sung in ENGLISH
Montclair State University
Opera Workshop Chamber Opera presents
Hansel & Gretel
Engelbert Humperdinck, Composer
Karen Driscoll (Director)
William Hobbs (Conductor)
Ginny Stephens (Musical Preparation, pianist)
Deborah Caney (Costume Designer & Coordinator)
James Conrad Smith (Scenic Designer)
Paige Elise Buchanan Stewart (Livestream Production)
Saturday, December 7 @ 6:00 PM
Alexander Kasser Theater
This fairy tale opera follows brother and sister–, Hansel and Gretel, as they are sent away to gather strawberries after frustrating their exhausted mother. While on their quest, the children get lost in the haunted woods where the renowned evil Witch of Ilsenstein dwells. After encountering some other magical characters, the children come upon a beautiful and delicious gingerbread house, where a kind old woman lives. They are invited inside to enjoy sweets and treats, only to be captured by the evil Witch! She puts a spell on the children, making them eat until they are plump so that she can cook them to perfection. The children manage to overcome the Witch, and their parents find them, all celebrating their freedom.
Family-friendly version: approximately 1 hour
Sung in ENGLISH
Montclair State University
Mainstage Opera & University
Symphony Orchestra presents
La Calisto
Francesco Cavalli, Composer
Rebecca Jo Loeb, Director
Kyle Ritenauer, Conductor
Saturday, February 1 @ 8:00 PM Tickets
Sunday, February 2 @ 3:00 PM Tickets
Alexander Kasser Theater
$20 Standard | $15 Seniors
Cavalli’s poignant and ruckus opera begins in the heavens when we learn that a young, beautiful nymph, Calisto, has the chance to become immortalized as a constellation among the stars. Her story of being pursued by Zeus himself, devastated by the Goddess Diana, and finding herself in the middle of the follies and heartbreaks of an amusing cast of mythological creatures and star crossed lovers leads her down a path of ultimate humiliation and destruction. Will she find her way to the stars, or will she be cursed to live among the vengeful Gods in a beastly form?
Libretto by Joshua McGuire
Date: December 9, 2023 @ 6PM Tickets and 8PM Tickets
Location: Alexander Kasser Theater
In 1924, on the French Riviera, we find the tumultuous relationship of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Scott is not only obsessed with finishing his novel “The Great Gatsby” but is also distracted incessantly by Zelda’s unsatiated need for attention by not only him but by other men.
In a fit of jealous rage, Scott locks Zelda in a bedroom, where she finds herself visited with visions of her younger and older selves. These visions force Zelda to contemplate her life choices and ultimately challenge her mental state while we are left wondering which one of the Zeldas is actually real.
(Sung in English with English surtitles)
Running time: approximately 1 hr
Director:Malena Dayen
Musical Preparation: Victoria Schwartzman and William Hobbs
Date: Saturday, January 27 @ 8PM Tickets | Sunday, January 28 @ 3PM Tickets
Location: Alexander Kasser Theater
Based on the true story of an order of Carmelite nuns who was executed by the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites is both an epic historical tragedy, and an intimate philosophical exploration of faith and humanity.
SPRING 2023 OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES
Trials & Triumphs of Love
An evening of opera scenes where we navigate the ever changing terrain of love, from families, friends, foes and fiancées, to a few pirates along the way!
Director: Karen Driscoll
Musical Preparation: LeAnn Overton and Michael S. Caldwell
Date: May 8, 2023 at 8:00 PM
Location: Leshowitz Recital Hall
CALI MAINSTAGE OPERA
GIANNI SCHICCHI and BUOSO’S GHOST
Music by Giacomo Puccini and Michael Ching
Conductor: Kyle Ritenauer
Director: Anna Rebek
Musical Preparation: Victoria Schwartzman and William Hobbs
Date: January 28, 2023 at 8PM and January 29, 2023 at 3PM
Location: Alexander Kasser Theater
Set in medieval Florence, the established Donati family are grieving around the deathbed of their patriarch, Buoso Donati. But when they find out he’s left their inheritance to the church – mourning turns to rage. They rope in a lower class fix-it guy, Gianni Schicchi, to change the will, in exchange for his daughter Lauretta marrying their young Rinuccio. Schicchi finds the perfect solution, executes the plan, and gets the Donati exactly what they deserve.
In the sequel to Puccini’s masterpiece, Michael Ching’s Buoso’s Ghost, Schicchi discovers a dark Donati secret. When they come back to haunt him, Schicchi screams for mercy, until he conjures up a new plan, and summons the ghost of Buoso for a little help.
CALI CHAMBER OPERA
THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDEGROOM
Music and Libretto by Dan Shore
Director: Karen Driscoll
Musical Preparation: Beth Robin and Ginny Stephens
Date: December 10, 2022 at 6 and 8PM
Location: Alexander Kasser Theater
A charming, award-winning comedic chamber opera about a widow who longs to marry again and her ambitious pursuit of a new, much younger husband by retaining the services of the local matchmaker. The matchmaker devises a clever plan–where twists and turns lead up to an unexpected ending for everyone!
SPRING 2022 OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES
LOOKING BACK MOVING FORWARD
Director: Karen Driscoll
Musical Preparation: LeAnn Overton & Michael S. Caldwell
Date: May 12, 2022 at 8PM
Location: Leshowitz Recital Hall
An evening of opera and musical theater scenes where we explore the past to find the key to our future.
RECORDED ARIAS PROJECT (Spring 2022)
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: William Hobbs
Director: Jeffrey Gall
Recording: Rob Davidson
“Giunse al fin’ il momento….Deh vieni non tardar”, Yejin Lee, soprano
“Aprite un po’ quegli occhi”, Jason Zacher, bass-baritone
“E Susanna non vien,…Dove sono i bei momenti”, GaDa Lambert, soprano
“Hai gia vinta la causa”, Seungchan Hong, baritone
FALL 2021 OPERA WORKSHOP
Preview from LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: William Hobbs
Director: Jeffrey Gall
Pianist: Michael S. Caldwell
Date: December 11, 2021 at 8PM
Location: Alexander Kasser Theater
SPRING 2021 OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES
UNMASKING OPERA
Director: Karen Driscoll
Musical Preparation: LeAnn Overton & Michael S. Caldwell
Date: June 6, 2021 at 8PM
Location: Offsite video projects
From Handel, Mozart, Massenet and more, our performances look beyond the stage and discover our characters’ lives both inside and out as we uncover their stories creatively through video storyboarding projects.
FALL 2020 OPERA SCENES PREVIEW
with works by Jonathan Bailey Holland and Jake Heggie
Director: Jeffrey Gall
Piano: William Hobbs & Grant Wenaus
Date: Video released March 31, 2021